1Diagnostic Radiology , Yale University
School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA; 2Neurology, Yale
University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; 3Biomedical
Engineering, Yale University School of Medicine , New HAven, CT, USA; 4School
of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK; 5Biomedical
Engineering, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, CT, USA; 6Neurobiology,
Yale University School of Medicine , New HAven, CT, USA

DTI has provided unique insights into human
epilepsy, and albeit to a lesser extent, animal models of seizure disorder. The
aims of this study were to use DTI in WAG/Rij rats, an animal model of absence
epilepsy, at two different developmental stages to first identify DTI changes
related to epileptogenesis and to then use a different animal model of absence
(GAERS) to determine the specificity of DTI changes. This study shows
impairment in animal models of epilepsy. These abnormalities are not present
early in life before development of seizures and are not specific to one animal
model of spike-wave epilepsy.